PharmD to MD

[Dreamerr]

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PharmD- thinking about a change in career -For current medical students would u consider 27 yo too old to start medical school ? I would appreciate insights, advices and I heard from a student that I would be a preferred candidate! Anyone knows anybody that’s a pharmD in medical school?

 

[hardpecs]

Go for it 110%. Its more lucrative, and in my admittedly biased perspective, a much more interesting path.
The only question is whether you have the means and resources to do so. If you do, then definitely.

Edit - at my programme we have MD students that are over 30 and 40. Not masses of them, but they're there. So at 27, you're hardly even in the old category.

 

[ciestar]

Im 27. Im in med school. It doesn’t matter at all.

 

[curbsideconsult]

First of all, enough with the whole "is my late 20s too old for medical school?" For the love of all that is good and holy, your late 20s is not too late to start medical school. SDN is littered with posts from us actual oldies who are in med school and from adcoms who have said ad nauseum that your late 20s (hell, even into your mid-30s) is not too old. Secondly, having a PharmD can only be of benefit to you with no downsides I can think of except that your pharm prof might pick on you during med school. I know a pharmacist turned med student and I am so jealous of his drug knowledge because medical school and Step has a lot of pharm. Thirdly, I don't know who's telling you that you're a preferred candidate simply because you're a PharmD. You'll be a preferred candidate if you score well and your overall app looks good to adcoms. Having a PharmD will set you apart from someone who has similar numbers to yours, but it won't do you a lick of good if you don't have the numbers to get in.

 

[RNthenDoc]

I’m older than you, and not the oldest in my school.

As others have said, the pharmD is neat, but unless you have the grades and MCAT, nobody is really going to give you a ton of credence with it.

In general, though, if nurses can go to medical school I’m sure pharmacists can too. 😉

 

[doyouhaveaflag]

I started at 31. There were a handful of people in my class who were older than I was. The oldest was 43.

I say 27 is exactly the right age to start med school. Old enough to have some life experience, not so old that you're over 40 when you finish residency (like me, lol).

 

[Roverreign]

Started medical school at 26 and I would say it was worth the delay for giving me time off undergrad, work several different jobs, travel a bit, and even finish a Masters degree. I also don't believe I was "ready" for medical school right after undergrad, even though my CV and application at the time would say otherwise. No, you're definitely not too old to start medical school. I don't personally know of any PharmD but know of several PhDs, Masters, and lawyers in medical school.

 

[purduepharm13]

I got my PharmD, then worked in community pharmacy. Went to medical school about that age. Now an IM resident. The PharmD helped in many ways making basic science and clinical stuff easier, but you will still have to put in as much work as any other med student. One semester of med school (didactic or clinical) is equivalent to the time/effort of 3-4 semesters combined of Pharm school. If you aren't fully committed to this and doing it just because you're dissatisfied with pharmacy, you'll be miserable.

 

[Lnsean]

PharmD- thinking about a change in career -For current medical students would u consider 27 yo too old to start medical school ? I would appreciate insights, advices and I heard from a student that I would be a preferred candidate! Anyone knows anybody that’s a pharmD in medical school?

I'm also a pharmd to md...started later than you...so no...age is not really a thing if you want to pursue your passion. There is absolutely an opportunity cost and starting later will negatively impact other aspects of your life (starting family, house, etc).

The most important thing to weigh is your motivation for going to med school. Do not go because you hate being a pharmacist or don't like your job. The grass is always greener. Only go if you cannot see yourself doing anything else other than being a doctor. I'd say there are a lot of uncertainties with healthcare in the coming decade and it would be foolish to weigh this commitment on a mere hunch or just current dissatisfaction. Medicine has its own problems and issues...more and more bureaucracy, office politics, mid-level encroachment, declining reimbursements, excessive regulation/documentations, excessive litigation...you name it. You will be essentially fighting the same war as when you were a pharmacist...just in a different battle.

If after weighing all of this, and you still cannot shake that feeling of wanting to become a MD...then definitely go for it. You only got one life to live. I don't want to regret anything on my deathbed.

For perspective, I was in a 0-6 pharmd program and unlike other allied health professions...pharmacy students going in straight from HS have a big disadvantage in that they don't get exposure to other areas/fields until they've already committed years into pharmacy. At least if you went into freshmen year of college undecided, you could explore and find what your passion is. In some ways, I feel the 0-6 pharmacy program does its students a disservice...only a few people know for sure what they want to do in life straight out of highschool and then to also not have a change of heart at that is even rarer.

Last point...I'm not sure who told you that you'd be preferred because of having the pharmD. The opposite is probably true. There is a big push to have more diversity and with waves and waves of premeds/allied health professions applying...having a pharmd is a burden (at least it was on my interview trails). You have to explain why you're switching. Schools and adcoms want people of more diversed experiences (non health care related)....art/history...philosophy...pyschology. This is the trend.

 

[rg2o3]

I’m a first year turning 27 next month. There are plenty older than I in my class.

 

[Dreamerr]

I really LOVE all of your comments and i actually have a bachelors in chemistry before pharmacy school and at that time I was really confused what to go for and I guess I picked pharmacy although I wanted medicine since I was really young but peer pressure ( had a few friends going for pharmacy) so I went along lol ( sooo young and foolish) anyways I did take the MCAT about 5 years ago and my score was 29 I know it’s not the best and in fact I scored low on PCAT ( another sign) but i was stubborn I guess lol anyways I guess I do have to take the MCAT again and in fact am 24 at the moment but I wanted to give myself a break and prep for med school so I am planning to apply when am 27 just thought It would be beneficial to get opinions from med students.
I agree I bet med school is harder than pharm but at least I got pharmacology and the drugs under my shoulder Lolol and not to brag but pharmacy school was a breeze for me.
I really can’t thank each and everyone of u and I wish u become the best doctors out there!

 

[Dreamerr]

I was really concerned about my age that’s all but I think my GPA In pharmacy and in undergrad is good and I will refresh for MCAT and take it by January 2019 and apply for 2020 cycle

 

[Dreamerr]

First of all, enough with the whole "is my late 20s too old for medical school?" For the love of all that is good and holy, your late 20s is not too late to start medical school. SDN is littered with posts from us actual oldies who are in med school and from adcoms who have said ad nauseum that your late 20s (hell, even into your mid-30s) is not too old. Secondly, having a PharmD can only be of benefit to you with no downsides I can think of except that your pharm prof might pick on you during med school. I know a pharmacist turned med student and I am so jealous of his drug knowledge because medical school and Step has a lot of pharm. Thirdly, I don't know who's telling you that you're a preferred candidate simply because you're a PharmD. You'll be a preferred candidate if you score well and your overall app looks good to adcoms. Having a PharmD will set you apart from someone who has similar numbers to yours, but it won't do you a lick of good if you don't have the numbers to get in.

Right I agree with u and haha they can pick on me however they want I’ll just show off hahha jk jk best of luck to you. You ROCK!

 

[bahdahboom]

PharmD- thinking about a change in career -For current medical students would u consider 27 yo too old to start medical school ? I would appreciate insights, advices and I heard from a student that I would be a preferred candidate! Anyone knows anybody that’s a pharmD in medical school?

In my opinion, 35ish is a bit too old to start Med school. Anything before that is fine. I know people older than 35 in my case though and they’re loving their decision.

 

[W19]

You are going to be 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and will die regardless.

 

[Dreamerr]

You are going to be 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and will die regardless.

Agreed that’s a fate no one will escape lol I just hope I can have the opportunity to save someone’s life one day or to make someone feel better and am not saying that I am dissatisfied with being a Pharmacist. Pharmacists ROCK and do a lot to help patients or I do at least, but I feel physicians have more autonomy with patients and involved more. I hope medical school is as fun as I expect it to be. I truly enjoyed Pharmacy school. Physicians ROCK too. Well some lol not the arrogant ones that don’t admit their mistakes hahaha

 

[W19]

Agreed that’s a fate no one will escape lol I just hope I can have the opportunity to save someone’s life one day or to make someone feel better and am not saying that I am dissatisfactied with being a Pharmacist. Pharmacists ROCK and do a lot to help patients or I do at least, but I feel physicians have more autonomy with patients and involved more. I hope medical school is as fun as I expect it to be. I truly enjoyed Pharmacy school. Physicians ROCK too. Well some lol not the arrogant ones that don’t admit their mistakes hahaha

I am pulling a 26-hr shift right now and just crossed the 19-hr mark with 3 pagers that are going off every 5-10 minutes, and still have no regrets. I was older than you when I started med school.

 

[Dreamerr]

I am pulling a 26-hr shift right now and just crossed the 18-hr mark with 3 pagers that are going off every 5-10 minutes, and still have no regrets. I was older than you when I started med school.

Wow U ROCK sir/ma’m I have no doubt that when someone is passionate for what they do .. they can move mountains! God bless u!

 

[MedicineN'Jazz]

PharmD- thinking about a change in career -For current medical students would u consider 27 yo too old to start medical school ? I would appreciate insights, advices and I heard from a student that I would be a preferred candidate! Anyone knows anybody that’s a pharmD in medical school?

Lol @27. I know one guy at Buffalo that started med school at 42 y/o, and another at ISU who started at 39. Life happens, careers change

 

[Dreamerr]

Lol @27. I know one guy at Buffalo that started med school at 42 y/o, and another at ISU who started at 39. Life happens, careers change

Haha sorry I was delusional, I regret posting this now haha thank you appreciate the insight

 

[golfman7]

Not too old... almost went to pharmacy school and had a change of heart in college. I ended up moving on from medicine but can’t imagine a pharmD degree hurting you at all plus the average age at most schools is around yours also. There are 40 year olds so your fine

 

[Dreamerr]

Not too old... almost went to pharmacy school and had a change of heart in college. I ended up moving on from medicine but can’t imagine a pharmD degree hurting you at all plus the average age at most schools is around yours also. There are 40 year olds so your fine

Awesome

 

[golfman7]

Awesome

There were a few pharmD holders at some interviews I went to. For admissions a degree like that definitely helps... and straight out of college 21 year olds are rare also. If you have good gpa and do decent on MCAT you should be fine. Have you taken a practice test yet? That will be very important part of your competitiveness... DO schools usually accept lower scores but there are some really competitive ones now that have scores at or above 30 on the old scale. It’s a rough exam and if it’s been awhile since you’ve seen the material you will have a lot of work to do.

 

[Robin-jay]

Anyone is in their 20's are at a perfect age to pursue medicine. Early 30's is ok. It can start to have some setbacks financially at 35+ in my opinion.

 

[Dreamerr]

There were a few pharmD holders at some interviews I went to. For admissions a degree like that definitely helps... and straight out of college 21 year olds are rare also. If you have good gpa and do decent on MCAT you should be fine. Have you taken a practice test yet?

So I bought the Kaplan books for each subject to refresh on the basic science topics but what would u recommend? I have a good GPA undergrad and pharmacy school. I heard with the new mcat grading 510 would be competitive but I have to look more into it

 

[golfman7]

So I bought the Kaplan books for each subject to refresh on the basic science topics but what would u recommend? I have a good GPA undergrad and pharmacy school. I heard with the new mcat grading 510 would be competitive but I have to look more into it

I used Berkeley Review and those books are tough but are good at reviewing and Princeton review also has good books. That’s what I used and I did decent on it but not great. Examcrackers also is a good source. Verbal reasoning was what drug my score down though

 

[Dreamerr]

I used Berkeley Review and those books are tough but are good at reviewing and Princeton review also has good books. That’s what I used and I did decent on it but not great. Examcrackers also is a good source. Verbal reasoning was what drug my score down though

Yess I feel like verbal reasoning is my weakness as well I did take the mcat 5 years ago and I scored 29 it’s isn’t the best but i struggled with verbal reasoning too :/

 

[golfman7]

Yess I feel like verbal reasoning is my weakness as well I did take the mcat 5 years ago and I scored 29 it’s isn’t the best but i struggled with verbal reasoning too :/

I scored a 28 and got a 7 on verbal also... that’s a good score though did you apply with it?

 

[Dreamerr]

I scored a 28 and got a 7 on verbal also... that’s a good score though did you apply with it?

Noo I took the pcat and applied for pharmacy school back then :/ lol I have a few friends going for pharmacy school so I went along lol ( young and foolish)

 

[Dreamerr]

Noo I took the pcat and applied for pharmacy school back then :/ lol I have a few friends going for pharmacy school so I went along lol ( young and foolish)

But I wanted to go to medical school that’s why I took the mcat but didn’t apply with it . I don’t think it’s valid to apply with either now

 

[golfman7]

Noo I took the pcat and applied for pharmacy school back then :/ lol I have a few friends going for pharmacy school so I went along lol ( young and foolish)

Yeah almost did pharmacy also... that was a good score though and could have gotten you into a lot of DO schools if you interviewed well and maybe an MD one

 

[golfman7]

But I wanted to go to medical school that’s why I took the mcat but didn’t apply with it . I don’t think it’s valid to apply with either now

Yeah they changed the exam and it’s tougher now. They have biochem and some other sections on it. The old one was hard enough can’t imagine what the new one is like.

 

[Dreamerr]

Yeah almost did pharmacy also... that was a good score though and could have gotten you into a lot of DO schools if you interviewed well and maybe an MD one

Ohh well lol it’s in the past now ... no regrats lol

 

[golfman7]

Ohh well lol it’s in the past now ... no regrats lol

Yeah same with me... doing a lot better now.

 

[Dreamerr]

Yeah same with me... doing a lot better now.

Are you in residency now or a student ?

 

[golfman7]

Are you in residency now or a student ?

No I went back and am doing engineering now. I made a post earlier today about how I got waitlisted or rejected at my interviews and decided to do something else.

 

[Dreamerr]

No I went back and am doing engineering now. I made a post earlier today about how I got waitlisted or rejected at my interviews and decided to do something else.

That’s awesome too .. engineering is great and it definitely needs a lot of brains haha

 

[golfman7]

That’s awesome too .. engineering is great and it definitely needs a lot of brains haha

Yeah it is... my gpa is much lower in engineering though different skill set I think.

 

[Dreamerr]

Yeah it is... my gpa is much lower in engineering though different skill set I think.

Yea I have a few friends who went for chemical engineering and loved it .idk what kind of engineering u do but it sure is a new set of skills from medical sciences

 

[golfman7]

I’m doing construction management... chemical engineering is really difficult and applaud your friends for doing it. I did it for one term and ended up not passing a mass balance course and switched out.

 

[Dreamerr]

I’m doing construction management... chemical engineering is really difficult and applaud your friends for doing it. I did it for one term and ended up not passing a mass balance course and switched out.

Wow yea I wasn’t interested in engineering I did my bachelors in chemistry. And wow very nice I bet it’s a nice pay and nice a lot of leadership skills.
Always remember nothing is easy at first I bet you will get it the more u learn about it.

“Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come. Remember everything you have faced, all the battles you have won, and all the fears you have overcome.”
Good day to u!

 

[golfman7]

Wow yea I wasn’t interested in engineering I did my bachelors in chemistry. And wow very nice I bet it’s a nice pay and nice a lot of leadership skills.
Always remember nothing is easy at first I bet you will get it the more u learn about it.

“Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come. Remember everything you have faced, all the battles you have won, and all the fears you have overcome.”
Good day to u!

Yeah my classes have gotten better I think... my pro school grades have improved and statics and structures were tough classes but got through them. I get far more Bs and Cs as an engineer. Have a good day.